A lighthearted and loving look back at the glory days of the Shady Dell, the historic haven for teenagers in York, PA, and the magnanimous couple that created it, John & Helen Ettline.

CLOSE YOUR EYES. TAKE A DEEP BREATH. OPEN YOUR HEART.

SHADY DEL KNIGHT, ADMINISTRATOR

High School Yearbook Photo

"More than a place, the Shady Dell was and will forever remain a state of mind." - Shady Del Knight

HELLO STRANGER ... IT SEEMS LIKE A MIGHTY LONG TIME!

Monday, July 25, 2016

Urban Decay: Hot Fun in the Summer... in the City... with Pop Rapper Becky G!

Welcome to part 5 of my

my 12-part series on the

up-and-coming young artists

of pop, pop rock and pop rap!

becky g

At the age of nine Rebecca Gomez went through amid-life crisis. She sought a direction for her life

and found it in music. Influenced by hip hop, pop,

country and Spanish recordings, Rebecca chose

to pursue a career as a singer, songwriter and

rapper. She took the stage name Becky G
and in 2011 started to grow a following
on YouTube with videos of herself
performing popular songs. An EP
album release and a string of
singles followed, including
four Billboard chart hits.

In 2014
Becky G won the Radio Disney
Music Award for Best New Artist and in
2015 was nominated for Artist of the Year
in the Billboard Latin Music Awards.

Becky is also an actress with TV credits
that include the Fox musical drama Empireand the role ofTrini/Yellow Ranger in
next year's reboot film of the series

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

As a rap artist, Becky G is the real deal -

a force to be reckoned with. Still in her

teens, Becky G brings it with confidence,

essential for anyone who wants to be a
convincing rapper. Becky G doesn't beat

around the bush. She gets to the point,

dishing a slick, sophisticated, street-
wise blend of pop-rap and Latin pop.
Watch and listen as Becky takes it
to the hoop with a reverse slam dunk
on her top 40 single "Break a Sweat."

32 comments:

I never heard of Becky G-- but I like her. Given her age she certainly is bold and confident. Becky’s Latin heritage is revealed in her songs— Can’t Stop Dancing is a great example. Her videos take us to the heart of the city for a glimpse of what she and her friends do for fun and recreation.

Some of Becky G’s songs are schizophrenic. Play It Again starts out as a rap song and evolves into a sweetly sung song with a pretty melody. The one with Pitbull is a winner— it has fire and a great beat. I can see why Shower was a hit— it’s catchy and fun. This Latina singer is great and should go far— thanks for introducing her!

Thanks for joining me as I kick off year nine with the Latin spiced recordings of rising pop rap star Becky G.

Hailing from the Los Angeles community of Inglewood, Becky is already a veteran performer at age 19. As you pointed out, many of her songs are a blend of bold rapping and sweet pop singing. I think the idea is to establish street cred at the beginning before allowing the dance beat and melody to kick in and carry the song. The formula is successfully used by other artists in this series.

If you watch Becky's videos closely you will see sponsor product placements targeting urban youth. The songs are indeed catchy and the videos nicely produced. I enjoyed Becky's 310 area code collaboration with Mr. Worldwide - 305 area code rapper Pitbull.

As a recording artist Becky has racked up an impressive list of award wins and nominations and her list of TV and movie appearances is growing.

Becky G impresses the heck out of me and I'm glad you like her, too. Thanks again for reading, watching and listening, Kathryn, and enjoy the rest of your week!

Tom, I didn't recognize Becky G by name, but I do remember the song "Shower". However I thought Andrea Grande did it. Of all today's song featured, I by far prefer the soft quality of Becky G's voice in Can't Stop Dancin'. I don't care much for rap and like it even less when I hear a girl rap, but then that's just me. :) Thank you for the introduction and have a danctastic week!

If you can get past the brazen rapping at the beginning of some of Becky's songs you will find, somewhere around the one minute mark, pleasant melodies sung sweetly. I enjoy the "jarring juxtaposition." :) I'm pleased to know you recognize "Shower," Becky's biggest chart hit to date.

Thank you again for your kind visit and comment, dear friend Cathy, and enjoy the rest of your week!

I'm not a fan of rap but she uses the cleanest language I've heard to date. If she sticks to singing I think she'll go far. Doesn't she have the most unique, endearing smile?Having always loved Latin music, I really liked "Can't stop dancing"Thanks for sharing another bit of something new, my friend. It's always a nice surprise :-)

Thank you very much for swinging by, dear friend! You're right. I have listened many Becky G recordings and she does keep it cleaner than Nicki Minaj and other rappers I could name. If you peel away the layers of rap toughness, you will, I think, find a sweet girl. I have learned to love Latin and Latin influenced music and the pop world has plenty of it. Even some of the Romanian artists I have been introducing make Latin styled recordings. I'm glad you like Becky's "Can't Stop Dancin'."

Thank you again for your visit and excellent comment, dear friend Diedre!

I'm glad you enjoyed the collaboration between Becky G and Pitbull. You're right. Much of his work seems derivative but I get a kick out of him and enjoy his macho style.

Becky is indeed a cute girl. Keep in mind that she has a good chance of establishing herself as an actress as well as a singer, so it will be interesting to see which path yields greater success for her.

She seems to be on the edge of stardom at 19.I hope she doesn't have a meltdown like so many other young singers/actresses have. She has the pretty look smile like Selena Gomez. Sorry rap is really not a favorite of mine and really don't like when young girls do it.

Sounds like you are having a nice summer.cheers, parsnip and thehamish

Yessum, here we have another beautiful pop singing Gomez girl and, as far as I know, they aren't related. I tend to doubt that Becky G will have a meltdown. The impression I get is that she is building a multifaceted career on solid footing.

Rap is simply the calling card that gets the target audience to tune in. In the middle of many Becky G recordings you will find a sweet spot, a pretty melody that does not have the same brazen rap 'tude.

I'm having a wonderful summer, Gayle, and I hope you are too. Stay cool out there in the desert. Thank you again for your visit and comment, dear friend, and enjoy the rest of your week!

As I have been telling others who seem to have bailed out on Becky's vids a few seconds too soon, there are sweet, melodic songs in the middle of many of Becky G's rap recordings. You just need to be a bit more patient.

She's a cutie with a great voice and much talent in the dancing arena! I've never heard of her but I'm thinking my Grandkiddos probably have. It's more their style of music. She infuses her Latin culture in her videos and it's good she goes by Becky G so not to be confused with Selena G...You know how to pick 'em Shady! Have a good week! Eddy came by yesterday for a visit and I'm happy to report he's doing great and taking it easy in our heat wave!

Thank you very much for joining the fun this week as I begin my 9th year of blogging with Latin pop-rap spitfire Becky G.

To give you a little more background on my featured artist, Becky G lists as her influences Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lopez and Mexican singer and actress Thalia. Becky G and Selena Gomez began their singing careers around the same time, circa 2008-2009. As it is with many of today's pop stars, Becky G is multi-talented - a singer, songwriter, rapper, dancer and actress. Becky is not yet a household name like Selena Gomez or Demi Lovato, but she's getting there. I'm glad you agree with me that she's got the right stuff to make it in at least one facet of show business.

Thank you for letting me know how Eddy is doing. You know that I love that pooch and think about him often. I'm sorry to learn that you are having a tropical heat wave up there. I saw that severe storms were sweeping across your region, too. Here in Florida it's that time of year when showers and t-storms are almost a daily occurrence and bring cooling relief for at least a short while.

Thank you very much for your kind visit and generous comments, dear friend YaYa. I wish you and your family a wonderful week ahead!

Becky D and me ... ya ... at the age of 16 I had MY midlife crisis as I was to be married off 2 Mr Ugly ... so I went and left ... haven't looked yet ... smiles ... ( I mean occasionally I have looked back in order 2 make sum, ehem! ... "adjustments") ... anyway ...smiles ... always love 2 visit with U in Ur awesome blog, Mr Shady ... Always, cat.

Thank you for taking a paws to come down and meet Becky G and listen to her mewsic. Your timing is purrfect. :)

From the cryptic clues that I glean from your writing style, I have been able to piece together tales (tails?) of tough times. I am sorry you endured trials and tribulations. Blogging can be therapeutic. Your blog affords you a means of expressing it out. If the music, memories and humor you find here at SDMM lift your spirits then I am happy to help. You are always welcome here, cat.

Thanks again for joining the fun, dear friend, and enjoy the rest of your week!

Becky G certainly is a talented young lady. Thanks for the introduction! I can appreciate her attributes, even though this isn't my favourite style of music. 'Can't Stop Dancing' was the best one, IMO and Pitbull is always fun to watch.

Thanks for dropping by to experience the singing style of Los Angeles pop-rapper Becky G.

I'm happy you agree with me that Becky's got game. Pitbull always makes it fun, doesn't he? Becky's Latin influences abound in "Can't Stop Dancin'" and I'm happy to know you found a Pick To Click in that number.

She is young, talented, energetic and knows different styles of singing and how to put it all together in one video. This isn't what I would listen to but I can so appreciate how strong her voice is and talent. I bet she could sing old standards and wow many people. I like Pitbull believe it or not because of his unique musical styling...bringing in Mexican/Spanish influences. Anyhow, she knows how to have fun and isn't all sex like many are to hide that they can't sing as well as they should. I found it interesting how the video had to showcase who was sponsoring her videos like Core and Revlon.....was it Revlon or Max Factor...oops...menopausal brain here.

I'm glad you can see that Becky G has substance as well as style. You're right. She doesn't play the slut card in every video, choosing instead to present herself as a sweet, typical teenager enjoying city life and having fun with her friends.

I'm happy to know you get a kick out of "Mr. Worldwide" - Pitbull. His macho area code 305 swag might not be everyone's taste but, if you listen to his message, his mission statement if you will, it is to bring people together all over the world, the idea being that if we are all singing, dancing, partying and having fun, there's no time for hate and war. Pitbull's philosophy matches mine and also matches the melting pot concept of the original Shady Dell where kids from the city, the suburbs, small towns and farms came together under one roof to forget about their problems, ignore their differences and have fun.

Yessum, I notice sponsor product placements in Becky's videos. It's a painless way to get a slickly produced video produced to help promote a new artist and many if not most up-and-comers do it.

Thank you again for your cheery visit and wonderful comment, dear friend BB!

Built for This was a cool video for sure. I would've really dug it back in the day... :)This isn't my style of music but of all the songs here, I did like Can't Stop Dancin' and the one with Pitbull was not bad at all!

Thank you for coming over to experience the look and sound of Becky G, one of the rising stars of pop-rap.

"Built For This" is included in an edition of the rhythm game series Just Dance. I didn't know anything about this genre but, from what I read, rhythm games are music-themed action video games that challenge a player's sense of rhythm. The series is developed and published by Ubisoft in Paris, France. There are also Japanese versions of Just Dance. That might help explain the bizarre robots and menacing creatures in Becky's video which also reminds me of the old "I Want My MTV" ads and Dire Straits' video for "Money For Nothing."

"Can't Get Enough" and "Can't Stop Dancin'" seem to be garnering most o the imaginary votes in this post.

Yessum, I am young at heart and going on the record with the music that is inspiring me at this stage of the game. Next year at this time it might be bluegrass. I never know where my ears will lead me or when the rudder will turn but I kinda like it that way.

Dear friend, all comments get published automatically because the blog is not moderated. Your latest comment is there. Just scroll up through the comments section and you will find it along with my reply. I always reply to comments, especially nice ones from sweet friends like you! :)

I wonder if Becky G is related to Kenny G. They have the same last name.It seems with her music, I either really like it, or really dislike it. I don't want to say hate, because that's too strong a word I think.The first song, 'Break a Sweat' I really enjoyed. But I probably would not be playing, 'Play It Again' Sam, any time soon. (See what I did there)?Shower I have actually heard on the radio and I really like that one as well. Even the final song, 'Built For This', was worth the listen. The others, sorry, I just wasn't keen on. But I'm glad to have found a few new songs to keep in my 'listen' list.

<< I wonder if Becky G is related to Kenny G. They have the same last name. >>

Good one! :) Not only do they have the same last name, they both sing in the shower. :) Shady's humor must be rubbing off on you, good buddy, and I'm enjoying it.

I'm surprised you liked the "bookends" of this post - Becky's bolder, nastier rap songs - more than you liked her relatively innocent songs. That's AOK, at least you found a tune or two to your liking, plus you had some fun while you were here. Fun? Shucks, I can tell that you had the time of your life. :)

Thank you very much for your visit and comments, good buddy Jeffrey, and enjoy the rest of your week!

Thank you for stopping by to experience Becky G, the precocious pop rapper from a.c. 310. I'm thrilled to know you appreciate this teenager's talent and poise. I think she's got the right stuff to go far.

Thanks again for dropping in and for your kind comment, dear friend Kathleen!

I'm a little surprised you never heard of Becky because she's been making a dent in the pop, dance and Latin charts for the last six years. I agree that she sounds like and shows as much promise and potential as Demi, Selena, Nicki and Kim. I predict it won't be long before you are spinning to her records at the gym. You will also see Becky on the big screen if you take your grandchildren to see Mighty Morphin Power Rangers next spring. She plays the Yellow Ranger.

I'm delighted that you enjoyed the songs and raps of Becky G, dear friend Toni. Thanks again for coming by and enjoy the rest of your weekend!

The Rodentia Intelligentsia

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"You had to be there!"

“Words and photographs could never do those dancers justice because you had to be there - in a club with great music, like minded people and loads of atmosphere.” David Meikle of Glasgow, Scotland wrote those words in an article remembering the Twisted Wheel, the legendary northern soul club in Manchester, England. Yet, Mr. Meikle could just as easily have been describing the scene at my favorite "in" spot of the 1960s, the Shady Dell in York (Pennsylvania, not England).

THE SHADY DELL

YORK, PENNSYLVANIA

The Shady Dell: Part of York County's Colorful History

What began as a home based restaurant and bakery in 1945 evolved over the next two decades into the hottest teen nightspot in York county complete with indoor and outdoor dance floors. It went beyond that. Shady Dell owner John Ettline and his wife Helen put out the welcome mat offering hospitality, comfort, support, and encouragement to generations of young people. During its impressive 45-year life span the Dell became a home away from home for countless area youth from a variety of backgrounds.

At the height of its popularity in the early and mid 60s the Dell, located on the southern outskirts of the White Rose city, was as widely known as North York’s White Oak Park ("the Oaks"), Harrisburg's Raven club or any other youth-oriented venue in central Pennsylvania. The Dell attracted crowds from all over the region. It brought together under one roof kids from middle class families and kids from working class families - city kids, suburban kids, small town kids and farm kids.

The diverse cast of characters that constituted the Shady Dell family was a potentially volatile mix. Each of us had to find a way to fit in and get along (or risk being voted off the island). In the end, in spite of our differences, most of us learned to dance together without stepping on each other’s toes.

Shady Dell regulars were nicknamed Dell rats and we had at least two things in common: a love of the music that played on the Dell’s jukebox and a genuine respect for John and Helen Ettline who graciously made their home our home.

GREATER THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS

The Dell was a unique, magical coming of age experience - a proving ground - a secluded hideaway where adolescents could develop social skills, learn to handle responsibility and test the waters of adulthood free from the hassles of ubiquitous adult micromanagement.

SHOCKING TRUE CONFESSION: I WAS A TEENAGE DELL RAT! by Shady Del Knight

I became a Dell rat in 1965 at the age of fifteen. Disparaging rumors about the place had been circulating for years. If you were to believe the gossip the Dell was a snake pit where bad boys and bad girls went to do bad things. Some people, including my mother, referred to the Dell as a “den of iniquity.” Intrigued by the horror stories, I was determined to get there and see for myself what all the fuss was about.

In preparation for my grand entrance, I subjected myself to weeks of rigorous training at a Shady Dell boot camp of my own devise. I grew my hair longer and took up the smoking habit. I practiced in front of a mirror until I was convinced that my stance, walk, and dancing style were all cool.

To complete my extreme makeover, I went shopping for my 'uniform' which consisted of a tapered shirt from the Hub, slacks by H.I.S. and two wardrobe essentials: a pair of blue Jack Purcell sneakers and the all-important Baracuta jacket "Made in England." Wearing my 'Cuta' made me feel so terribly, terribly British, you know. Spot on for us bird watchin' blokes, right gov'na?

'JACKS'

AN ABSOLUTE MUST...FOR DANCIN' ON DELL DUST!

THE CLASSIC NATURAL COLOUR BARACUTA

STRICTLY CONTINENTAL, MATE!

Moment of Truth: Boy Meets Dell

Too young to drive, I made my first Dell visit happen by bumming a ride one night with my college-age cousin and two of his buddies. Clearly, none of the above was thrilled to be babysitting.

As we drove past York Hospital on South George and headed toward Violet Hill, what began as giddy anticipation was turning to apprehension. Fear of the unknown started creeping into my brain. What if the rumors turned out to be true? Would I soon be sharing a needle with a gang of rowdy bikers?

At Violet Hill, we made a dogleg turn to the right and began to climb the narrow, winding, bumpy Starcross Road. By this time my breathing had become labored and I felt queasy. It was as if, on a foolish dare, I had agreed to spend the night with Vincent Price in his House on Haunted Hill. Was it too late to leap from the car and bolt?

"I See the Lights... I See the Party Lights..."

We rounded a bend and I caught my first glimpse of her a short distance up the road. Perched on the hillside was a three-story brick house. Down to the left stood a barn. The festive glow of colored lights rose skyward from an area behind the house. As I would soon learn, the atmospheric illumination originated from strings of lanterns hanging above a patio rigged with remote speakers for outdoor dancing.

As we banked to make our final approach I detected the percussive beat of uptempo music emanating from the barn. We turned left into a gravel parking lot overflowing with vehicles. Here, in all of her rustic splendor, stood the infamous Shady Dell, my destination for the evening and my obsession for years to come!

I Found My Thrill on Violet Hill

My heart was thumping as we climbed the steps that led to the entrance and approached the admission booth. Following my cousin’s lead, I slid a quarter through the window and looked up to see a balding, bespectacled old man grinning back at me. Old? John Ettline would have been 59 at the time. I'm older than that now. Yikes!

“Good evening, gentlemen!” John delivered his cheerful salutation in a booming baritone. Immediately, my anxiety vanished. John’s warm welcome made me feel right at home. It made me feel like I belonged. I didn’t get it at the time but later came to realize that John’s presupposition that we were "gentlemen" was a clever and tactful way of admonishing us to behave accordingly.

Toto, I've a Feeling We're Not in Kansas Anymore!

From the moment I entered the compound I was hooked. The Shady Dell was a private playground for teenagers - a candy land - a fun factory - a safe haven where kids could congregate and blow off steam without having to worry about parents and teachers giving them the evil eye. Instantly I became intoxicated - not by alcohol - but by a sense of total freedom. The place gave off a vibe that was completely new to me – an exhilarating blend of romance, adventure and danger!

Instead of placing a ton of restrictions on their young patrons, John and Helen granted them the independence they craved. The Ettlines were willing to take a step back and trust our judgment. It was okay for us to party as long as things didn’t get out of hand. Most of us eagerly embraced that arrangement. If and when we screwed up, the Ettlines gave us another chance. John and Helen cut you plenty of slack, but if you disrespected them or trashed their establishment both were capable of unleashing a fiery temper.

Of Rats and Men

Contrary to popular belief, the Dell did not harbor gangs of juvenile delinquents eager to conceal their wicked deeds from law enforcement. Sorry, Mom - there weren’t any guns, switchblades or brass knuckles - no gangs, career criminals or prostitutes - just a bunch of ordinary teenagers who loved to meet, mix and mingle, dance and have fun.

Fights were few and far between. There was tacit agreement that it was our duty to preserve and protect the unique setting that the Ettlines had created for us. It required us to police ourselves to prevent incidents that would generate negative publicity or hassles with the law. Scuffles were settled quickly, often through John’s bold intervention. The first lesson a guy learned at the Dell was as follows. Don’t let the gray hair fool you. Nobody messes with John. He’s the boss!

A Special Welcome to All Incoming Freshmen!

I was punched in the face three times during my first year of matriculation on the campus of the Shady Dell School of Hard Knocks. Apparently a few of the guys were determined to teach me a lesson. Yet, getting socked in the kisser did not dampen my enthusiasm or scare me away from the place. In fact they had the opposite effect. They whet my appetite for more! As a Dell newbie desperate to break free of mom’s apron strings and earn respect and acceptance, I wasn’t about to let a bloody nose deter me. For the first time in my life I felt like a man instead of a boy and I loved it. Like Secret Agent Man I was living a life of danger. I was addicted to the rush!

Determined to create an image that would allow me to blend in, appeal to the ladies and avoid becoming a frequent target of the tribe's dominant males, I did a lot of posing, posturing and pretending. I decided that it would be advantageous for me to look tough even though I wasn't. Whenever I strolled into the dance hall, I made sure that my hair was messed up, my shirt tail was hanging out, a lit cigarette was dangling from my lips and my game face was on.

One afternoon before anybody else arrived, my best friend and I rolled around on the dance floor of the barn so that we could properly break-in our new Baracuta jackets by getting them coated with Dell dust. This drove my mother crazy. She kept asking me how I got my jacket so badly soiled. She was even more perplexed when I forbade her to get it cleaned. How could I explain to her that I didn’t want to risk weakening my status with the other guys by wearing a clean jacket?

In my mom’s day the ideal guy wore a white sport coat and a pink carnation. His hair was neatly cropped, oiled down and slicked back off his forehead. That look would have spelled social suicide at the Dell in the mid 60s. My goal was to look like I had just been in a fight at reform school, and if I got my uniform dirty or bloodied in combat, it was a GOOD thing.

Helen & John Ettline

Shady Dell Owners

Helen and John: Not Your Typical Mom and Pop

Even by mid 60s standards, John Ettline seemed part of a vanishing breed of men. John never called me by my first name. He always chose to address me as “Mr. Knight." John maintained that friendly formality through all the years I knew him. I’m very glad he did. John always made me feel important when he added the title “Mr.” to my name. Making insecure teenagers feel good about themselves was John’s greatest gift. He always treated young people with dignity and respect and that made them want to return it.

Along with his outstanding people skills, John possessed a photographic memory. He could always match a face with a name. He seemed to know a lot about anything or anybody that you happened to be discussing. John Ettline had a million stories to tell - all of them interesting.

Although old enough to be our grandparents, there was no generation gap between the Ettlines and their teenage guests. They seemed to remember better than other grown-ups what it was like to be young. John and Helen stayed in touch and in tune with the youth culture. Never was that more in evidence than one day at the York Fair in September, 1968. I was sitting in the grandstand awaiting the start of the James Brown concert. I turned around to search the crowd for familiar faces and there, a few rows behind me, sat Helen and John. In a year when racial tension was running high in York and elsewhere, it was remarkable to see a white couple in their 60s at a James Brown concert, chanting along with the rest of us, “Say It Loud: I’m Black and I’m Proud!”

John and Helen were cool. Young people felt at ease talking with them. Unlike many adults, John and Helen listened to us. They cared without preaching or judging. The Ettlines treated their teen visitors like extended family. They believed in the potential of every young person, including troubled youth from broken homes. They spoke to us about the value of an education and honest hard work. They sponsored athletic programs and honored America’s armed forces. They shaped young lives by instilling a sense of pride and self esteem. John and Helen went out of their way to make all of their kids feel like somebody - even those whose families were telling them they were nobody.

The Dell Jukebox: ALL KILLER AND NO FILLER!

Upon arriving on the Dell scene I soon realized that the jukebox in the dance hall was loaded with the greatest, most danceable records to be found anywhere. There were quite a few songs that I had never heard before and would never hear anywhere else. The music mix that played nightly at the Dell was consistently better than what I was hearing on the radio. In the mid 60s the Dell's musical menu was an exciting blend of Motown, Chi-town, New York and Philly soul, Memphis, southern R&B, blue-eyed soul, Brit beat, sunshine pop, garage, psych and folk-rock plus a few do-wop favorites held over from the 50s.

Shady Dell regulars, the gang I now refer to as the Rodentia Intelligentsia, prided themselves on having radar for cool. Year in and year out they discovered and popularized songs that radio stations across the country overlooked. Records that lingered near the bottom of the national chart often became cherished classics at the Dell. Forgotten flips were elevated to mega-hit status by Dell rats unfettered by the limitations of radio play lists.

Certain songs resonated with the Dell crowd to such an extent that they stayed on the jukebox for years. The best example of this phenomenon is the record ranked #1 on my survey of the 200 Greatest Hits Of The Shady Dell. It remained one of the most popular jukebox selections a dozen years after its initial release in the 50s. That very special song, the greatest and longest lasting Shady Dell hit of all time, was "Close Your Eyes" by the Five Keys.

THE FIVE KEYS

"Close Your Eyes" Ranked #1

Del-Chords & Magnificent Men

Another mighty evergreen at the Shady Dell was "Everybody’s Gotta Lose Someday," an intense, power-packed r&b/soul ballad by the Del-Chords, a racially mixed group from York. Released in 1964, the record was still being played heavily two years later, jamming the floor with slow dancers several times a night. Dave Bupp and Buddy King, lead vocalists from the Del-Chords, eventually merged with band members of Harrisburg’s Endells to form a blue-eyed soul group called the Magnificent Men. The “Mag Men,” as we called them, were white guys who had a passion for black music and the vocal talent and musicianship to authentically perform it. Their inspiring ballad "Peace of Mind" was the first in an impressive string of Dell hits for our hometown heroes.

Magnificent Men

HEAVY HITTERS AT THE DELL!

The Emperors of Harrisburg

Records by the Emperors, another home-grown act, were also enormously popular with Dell dancers. A black group from the state capital, the Emperors were exponents of the “Harrisburg sound,” a blend of r&b, soul, garage and Latin influences. "Karate," the Emperors’ best known recording, was the first of eight raw, funky, organ-driven numbers to achieve hit status at the Dell in 1966 and 1967.

THE EMPERORS

DELL ROYALTY - THEY RULED!

End of an Era

Once addicted to the Dell, I pretty much lived there until the fall of 1967 when I left York to attend an institution of higher learning. Over the next four years I visited my Dell family whenever possible during holidays, spring breaks, and summer vacations. My stint as a Dell rat officially ended in 1971 when I found a job in another city and moved away from York for good.

My final visit to the Dell came in March of 1984 when my career took me out of state. My last piece of business before leaving was to drop in at the Dell and say a final goodbye. I entered the house to find John sitting on a stool at the lunch counter reading the newspaper. “Well, hello stranger!” John bellowed, rising to his feet and extending his hand. “Long time no see, Mr. Knight!" After shaking hands with John and exchanging a few pleasantries, I inquired about Helen. I was stunned to learn that she had passed away a few weeks earlier. I never got the news! John and I stood alone in Helen’s snack bar, reminiscing about the good old days and lamenting how much things had changed since the Dell’s golden era.

After a brief chat with John I excused myself and walked down the sidewalk to check out the barn. The old dance hall was dimly lit and nearly vacant. The only customers were two boys with shoulder length hair standing by the jukebox with a couple of girls. No music was playing. The place was dead or, more accurately, in the final lonely stages of life. If it had been twenty years earlier, the joint would have been jumpin’. The four young people eyed me suspiciously. Is this guy a narc? I put myself in their combat boots and realized that the sight of a stranger in his mid thirties was probably making this new generation of Dell rats uncomfortable. I promptly exited the barn and returned to the house to bid farewell to John.

That night marked the last time I ever saw John or entered the Shady Dell. I made one final pilgrimage in 1988 when I returned to Pennsylvania to visit my parents. I drove up to the Dell one afternoon with every intention of going inside. I’m sure I would have encountered a smiling John Ettline and that he would have immediately remembered my name. Yet, I never got out of the car. I chose not to enter because I didn’t want to further contaminate my memories by seeing how much older John looked and how much more dilapidated the Dell had become. All I could do was sit there in the parking lot gazing at the barn, the house, the bench and the steps to the admission booth where the whole journey started. My mind flooded with a thousand memories of the people, the place, and the time of my life.

John Ettline closed the Dell in the fall of 1991. He died at the beginning of 1993. John’s family auctioned off the restaurant equipment, signage and other Dell paraphernalia in the spring of that year.

(Mike Argento's 1993 article in the York Daily Record was used as a reference source for portions of this cover story.)

Thank You, Thisisme!

Thank you, Sush!

Thank you, Katia!

Thank You, Alabee!

Thank You, Gingeyginge!

THANK YOU, THISISME!

Thank you, Belle!

Thank you, LyDe (The Lyrical Designer)

Thank you, Kelly-marie!

Thank You, Thisisme!

Thank You, PencilGirl!

Thank you, Katia!

Thank You, Thisisme!

Thank You, Kristina!

Thank You, PencilGirl!

Spread the word...

THE RAT PACK IS BACK!

A-ha! I knew it! There's fine print!

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